NHTSA Complaint #729786 — 1997 FORD F-150

FIRST NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS HESITATING AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE EASILY. TOOK TO A FRIEND OF OURS WHO OPENED UP A NEW AUTO SHOP AND HE CHANGED THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. HE THEN PULLED UP TSB FROM THE INTERNET REGARDING ENGINE CONTAMINATION, ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7. HE ENCOURAGED US TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER WHERE THEY COULD FURTHER DIAGNOSE AND HOOK UP TO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES, AS OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND HE WASN'T SET UP TO READ THE COMPUTER. WE DROVE THE TRUCK, WITH BRAND NEW OIL, 4 MILES TO OUR HOUSE, PARKED AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE HAD PURCHED THE VEHICLE. WE ALSO SAVED A SAMPLE OF THE CONTAMINATED OIL IN AN OLD WINDEX BOTTLE AND SENT IT TO THE DEALER. IT SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITH NO ONE LOOKING AT IT UNTIL I FINALLY DROVE THERE MYSELF AND ASKED WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PERSON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT THE CAR DID NOT COME INTO WORK AND HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. I THEN HAD TO CALL BACK WHEN I GOT HOME, 5 HOURS LATER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED OR TAKEN APART TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE. THEY SAID IT WAS EXCESSIVELY DRIVEN WITH THE CONTAMINATED OIL. WE NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT THE OIL WAS CONTAMINATED, NOR WERE WE EVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL NOTICE. WE HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, ALWAYS! THEN HE PROCEEDS TO TELL ME THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THAT IS ALL WE KNOW FOR NOW AND AM WAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER AFTER HE TALKS WITH HIS MANAGER AND FORD. HOPING FOR THE BEST.